michael crichton.congo-第20章

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　〃But　the　jet　must　be　faster；〃　Elliot　said。
　〃Not　necessarily；〃　Ross　said；　but　she　did　not　explain　further。
　In　any　case；　things　were　now　happening　very　fast；　and　Elliot　had　other　concerns。　He　helped　Amy　aboard　the　Fokker；　and　checked　her　thoroughly。　She　seemed　to　be　bruised　all　over　her　body…at　least　she　plained　that　everything　hurt　when　he　touched　her…but　she　had　no　broken　bones；　and　she　was　in　good　spirits。
　Several　black　men　were　loading　equipment　into　the　airplane；　laughing　and　slapping　each　other　on　the　back；　having　a　fine　time。　Amy　was　intrigued　with　the　men；　demanding　to　know　What　joke　？　But　they　ignored　her；　concentrating　on　the　work　at　hand。　And　she　was　still　groggy　from　her　medication。　Soon　she　fell　asleep。
　Ross　supervised　the　loading；　and　Elliot　moved　toward　the　rear　of　the　plane；　where　she　was　talking　with　a　jolly　black　man；　whom　she　introduced　as　Kahega。
　〃Ah；〃　Kahega　said；　shaking　Elliot's　hand。　〃Dr。　Elliot。　Dr。　Ross　and　Dr。　Elliot；　two　doctors；　very　excellent。〃
　Elliot　was　not　sure　why　it　was　excellent。
　Kahega　laughed　infectiously。　〃Very　good　cover；〃　he　announced。　〃Not　like　the　old　days　with　Captain　Munro。　Now　two　doctors…a　medical　mission；　yes？　Very　excellent。　Where　are　the　'medical　supplies'？〃　He　cocked　an　eyebrow。
　〃We　have　no　medical　supplies。〃　Ross　sighed。
　〃Oh；　very　excellent；　Doctor；　I　like　your　manner；〃　Kahega　said。　〃You　are　American；　yes？　We　take　what；　M…16s？　Very　good　rifle；　M…16。　I　prefer　it　myself。〃
　〃Kahega　thinks　we　are　running　guns；〃　Ross　said。　〃He　just　can't　believe　we　aren't。〃
　Kahega　was　laughing。　〃You　are　with　Captain　Munro！〃　he　said；　as　if　this　explained　everything。　And　then　he　went　off　to　see　about　the　other　workmen。
　〃You　sure　we　aren't　running　guns？〃　Elliot　asked　when　they　were　alone。
　〃We're　after　something　more　valuable　than　guns；〃　Ross　said。　She　was　repacking　the　equipment；　working　quickly。　Elliot　asked　if　he　could　help；　but　she　shook　her　head。　〃I've　got　to　do　this　myself。　We　have　to　get　it　down　to　forty　pounds　per　person。〃
　〃Forty　pounds？　For　everything？〃
　〃That's　what　the　puter　projection　allows。　Munro's　brought　in　Kahega　and　seven　other　Kikuya　assistants。　With　the　three　of　us；　that　makes　eleven　people　all　together；　plus　Amy…she　gets　her　full　forty　pounds。　But　it　means　a　total　of　four　hundred　eighty　pounds。〃　Ross　continued　to　weigh　packs　and　parcels　of　food。
　The　news　gave　Elliot　serious　misgivings。　The　expedition　was　taking　yet　another　turn；　into　still　greater　danger。　His　immediate　desire　to　back　out　was　checked　by　his　memory　of　the　video　screen；　and　the　gray　gorilla　like　creature　that　he　suspected　was　a　new；　unknown　animal。　That　was　a　discovery　worth　risk。　He　stared　out　the　window　at　the　porters。　〃They're　Kikuyu？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃They're　good　porters；　even　if　they　never　shut　up。　Kikuyu　tribesmen　love　to　talk。　They're　all　brothers；　by　the　way；　so　be　careful　what　you　say。　I　just　hope　Munro　didn't　have　to　tell　them　too　much。〃
　〃The　Kikuyu？〃
　〃No；　the　NCNA。〃
　〃The　NCNA；〃　Elliot　repeated。
　〃The　Chinese。　The　Chinese　are　very　interested　in　puters　and　electronic　technology；〃　Ross　said。　〃Munro　must　be　telling　them　something　in　exchange　for　the　advice　they're　giving　him。〃　She　gestured　to　the　window；　and　Elliot　looked　out。　Sure　enough；　Munro　stood　under　the　shadow　of　the　747　wing；　talking　with　four　Chinese　men。
　〃Here；〃　Ross　said；　〃stow　these　in　that　corner。〃　She　pointed　to　three　large　Styrofoam　cartons　marked　AMERICAN　SPORT　DIVERS；　LAKE　ELSINORE；　CALIF。
　〃We　doing　underwater　work？〃　Elliot　asked；　puzzled。
　But　Ross　wasn't　paying　attention。　〃I　just　wish　I　knew　what　he　was　telling　them；〃　she　said。　But　as　it　turned　out；　Ross　needn't　have　worried；　for　Munro　paid　the　Chinese　in　something　more　valuable　to　them　than　electronics　information。
　The　Fokker　lifted　off　from　the　Nairobi　runway　at　14：24　hours；　three　minutes　ahead　of　their　new　timeline　schedule。
　
　During　the　sixteen　hours　following　Amy's　recovery；　the　ERTS　expedition　traveled　560　miles　across　the　borders　of　four　countries…Kenya；　Tanzania；　Rwanda；　and　Zaire…as　they　went　from　Nairobi　to　the　Barawana　Forest；　at　the　edge　of　the　Congo　rain　forest。　The　logistics　of　this　plex　move　would　have　been　impossible　without　the　assistance　of　an　outside　ally。　Munro　said　that　he　〃had　friends　in　low　places；〃　and　in　this　case　he　had　turned　to　the　Chinese　Secret　Service；　in　Tanzania。
　The　Chinese　had　been　active　in　Africa　since　the　early　1960s；　when　their　spy　networks　attempted　to　influence　the　course　of　the　Congolese　civil　war　because　China　wanted　access　to　the　Congo's　rich　supplies　of　uranium。　Field　operatives　were　run　out　of　the　Bank　of　China　or；　more　monly；　the　New　China　News　Agency。　Munro　had　dealt　with　a　number　of　NCNA　〃war　correspondents〃　when　he　was　running　arms　from　1963　to　1968；　and　he　had　never　lost　his　contacts。
　The　Chinese　financial　mitment　to　Africa　was　considerable。　In　the　late　1960s；　more　than　half　of　China's　two　billion　dollars　in　foreign　aid　went　to　African　nations。　An　equal　sum　was　spent　secretly；　in　1973；　Mao　Tse…tung　plained　publicly　about　the　money　he　had　wasted　trying　to　overthrow　the　Zaire　government　of　President　Mobutu。
　The　Chinese　mission　in　Africa　was　meant　to　counter　the　Russian　influence；　but　since　World　War　lithe　Chinese　bore　no　great　love　for　the　Japanese；　and　Munro's　desire　to　beat　the　Euro…Japanese　consortium　fell　on　sympathetic　ears。　To　celebrate　the　alliance；　Munro　had　brought　three　grease…stained　cardboard　cartons　from　Hong　Kong。
　The　two　chief　Chinese　operatives　in　Africa；　Li　T'ao　and　Liu　Shu…wen；　were　both　from　Hunan　province。　They　found　their　African　posting　tedious　because　of　the　bland　African　food；　and　gratefully　accepted　Munro's　gift　of　a　case　of　tree　ears　fungus；　a　case　of　hot　bean　sauce；　and　a　case　of　chili　paste　with　garlic。　The　fact　that　these　spices　came　from　neutral　Hong　Kong；　and　were　not　the　inferior　condiments　produced　in　Taiwan；　was　a　subtle　point；　in　any　case；　the　gift　struck　exactly　the　proper　note　for　an　informal　exchange。
　NCNA　operatives　assisted　Munro　with　paperwork；　some　difficult…to…obtain　equipment；　and　information。　The　Chinese　possessed　excellent　maps；　and　remarkably　detailed　information　about　conditions　along　the　northeast　Zaire　border…　since　they　were　assisting　the　Tanzanian　troops　invading　Uganda。　The　Chinese　had　told　him　that　the　jungle　rivers　were　flooding；　and　had　advised　him　to　procure　a　balloon　for　crossings。　But　Munro　did　not　bother　to　take　their　advice；　indeed；　he　seemed　to　have　some　plan　to　reach　his　destination　without　crossing　any　rivers　at　all。　Although　how；　the　Chinese　could　not　imagine。
　
　At　10　P。M。　on　June　16；　the　Fokker　stopped　to　refuel　at　Rawamagena　airport；　outside　Kigali　in　Rwanda。　The　local　traffic　control　officer　boarded　the　plane　with　a　clipboard　and　forms；　asking　their　next　destination。　Munro　said　that　it　was　Rawamagena　airport；　meaning　that　the　aircraft　would　make　a　loop；　then　return。
　Elliot　frowned。　〃But　we're　going　to　land　somewhere　in　the…〃
　〃Sh…h…h；〃　Ross　said；　shaking　her　head。　〃Leave　it　alone。〃
　Certainly　the　traffic　officer　seemed　content　with　this　flight　plan；　once　the　pilot　signed　the　clipboard；　he　departed。　Ross　explained　that　flight　controllers　in　Rwanda　were　accustomed　to　aircraft　that　did　not　file　full　plans。　〃He　just　wants　to　know　when　the　plane　will　be　back　at　his　field。　The　rest　is　none　of　his　business。〃
　Rawamagena　airport　was　sleepy；　they　had　to　wait　two　hours　for　petrol　to　be　brought；　yet　the　normally　impatient　Ross　waited　quietly。　And　Munro　dozed；　equally　indifferent　to　the　delay。
　〃What　about　the　timeline？〃　Elliot　asked。
　〃No　problem；〃　she　said。　〃We　can't　leave　for　three　hours　anyway。　We　need　the　light　over　Mukenko。〃
　〃That's　where　the　airfield　is？〃　Elliot　asked。
　〃If　you　call　it　an　airfield；〃　Munro　said；　and　he　pulled　his　safari　hat　down　over　his　eyes　and　went　back　to　sleep。
　This　worried　Elliot　until　Ross　explained　to　him　that　most　outlying　African　airfields　were　just　dirt　strips　cut　into　the　bush。　The　pilots　couldn't　land　at　night；　or　in　the　foggy　morning；　because　there　were　often　animals　on　the　field；　or　encamped　nomads；　or　another　plane　that　had　put　down　and　was　unable　to　take　off　again。　〃We　need　the　light；〃　she　explained。　〃That's　why　we're　waiting。　Don't　worry：　it's　all　factored　in。〃
　Elliot　accepted　her　explanation；　and　went　back　to　check　on　Amy。　Ross　sighed。　〃Don't　you　think　we'd　better　tell　him？〃　she　asked。
　〃Why？〃　Munro　said；　not　lifting　his　hat。
　〃Maybe　there's　a　problem　with　Amy。〃
　〃I'll　take　care　of　Amy；〃　Munro　said。
　〃It's　going　to　upset　Elliot　when　he　finds　out；〃　Ross　said。
　〃Of　course　it's　going　to　upset　him；〃　Munro　said。　〃But　there's　no　point　upsetting　him　until　we　have　to。　After　all；　what's　this　jump　worth　to　us？〃
　〃Forty　hours；　at　least。　It's　dangerous；　but　it'll　give　us　a　whole　new　timeline。　We　could　still　beat　them。〃
　〃Well；　there's　your　answer；〃　Munro　said。　〃Now　keep　your　mouth　shut；　and　get　some　rest。〃
　
　DAY　5：　MORUTI
　June　17；1979
　
　1。Zaire
　
　FIVE　HOURS　OUT　OF　RAWAMAGENA；　THE　LANDSCAPE　changed。　Once　past　Goma；　near　the　Zaire　border；　they　found　themselves　flying　over　the　easternmost　fingers　of　the　Congo　rain　forest。　Elliot　stared　out　the　window；　fascinated。
　Here　and　there　in　the　pale　morning　light；　a　few　fragile　wisps　of　fog　clung　like　cotton　to　the　canopy　of　trees。　And　occasionally　they　passed　the　dark　snaking　curve　of　a　muddy　river；　or　the　straight　deep　red　gash　of　a　road。　But　for　the　most　part　they　looked　down　upon　an　unbroken　expanse　of　dense　forest；　extending　away　into　the　distance　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see。
　The　view　was　boring；　and　simultaneously　frightening…it　was　frightening　to　be　confronted　by　what　Stanley　had　called　〃the　indifferent　immensity　of　the　natural　world。〃　As　one　sat　in　the　air…conditioned　fort　of　an　airplane　seat；　it　was　impossible　not　to　recognize　that　this　vast；　monotonous　forest　was　a　giant　creation　of　nature；　utterly　dwarfing　in　scale　the　greatest　cities　or　other　creations　of　mankind。　Each　individual　green　puff　of　a　tree　had　a　trunk　forty　feet　in　diameter；　soaring　two　hundred　feet　into　the　air；　a　space　the　size　of　a　Gothic　cathedral　was　concealed　beneath　its　billowing　foliage。　And　Elliot　knew　that　the　forest　extended　to　the　west　for　nearly　two　thousand　miles；　until　it　finally　stopped　at　the　Atlantic　Ocean；　on　the　west　coast　of　Zaire。
　Elliot　had　been　anticipating　Amy's　reaction　to　this　first　view　of　the　jungle；　her　natural　environment。　She　looked　out　the　window　with　a　fixed　stare。　She　signed　Here　jungle　with　the　same　emotional　neutrality　that　she　named　color　cards；　or　objects　spread　out　on　her　trailer　floor　in　San　Francisco。　She　was　identifying　the　jungle；　giving　a　name　to　what　she　saw；　but　he　sensed　no　deeper　recognition。
　Elliot　said　to　her；　〃Amy　like　jungle？〃
　Jungle　here；　she　signed。　Jungle　is。
　He　persisted；　probing　for　the　emotional　context　that　he　was　sure　must　be　there。　Amy　like　jungle？
　Jungle　here。　Jungle　is。　Jungle　place　here　Amy　see　jungle　here。
　He　tried　another　approach。　〃Amy　live　jungle　here？〃
　No。　Expressionless。
　〃Where　Amy　live？〃
　Amy　live　Amy　house。　Referring　to　her　trailer　in　San　Francisco。
　Elliot　watched　her　loosen　her　seat　belt；　cup　her　chin　on　her　hand　as　she　stared　lazily　out　the　window。　She　signed；　Amy　want　cigarette。
　She　had　noticed　Munro　smok